Notre Dame’s defensive woes have been a challenge this season. However, bleeding into week 6, and just moments before the matchup, a roster injury update has made some changes in the lineup. This time, it’s the special teams that have been affected. The Irish will not feature kicker Noah Burnette against Boise State on Saturday, owing to a right-hip injury.

In mid-September, ahead of the matchup against Purdue, the head coach had stated to the media that if Burnette couldn’t go on the field, junior Marcello Diomeded and freshman Erik Schmidt would be battling for the spot. Then, ahead of the Arkansas game, Burnette’s future seemed murky, with Freeman calling his chances ‘probable’ to do field goals, along with Schmidt and Diomede for the kickoffs. “We’ll still continue to have him and Marcello compete to be the backup field goal kicker,” the HC had said. “It comes down to just consistency.” As it seems, over the course, freshman Eric Schmidt has won the battle.

Replacing him, Eric Schmidt will go on the field. “Freshman kicker Erik Schmidt appears to be the replacement against for Noah Burnette, based on pregame warmups,” SB Tribune’s Mike Berardino shared the news on X. “Schmidt missed from 31 yards vs. Purdue on his only college FG attempt thus far.” During his collegiate debut season against the Boilermakers, although Schmidt missed a 31-yard attempt, he has made 10-for-10 on extra points this season. Against Purdue, the Milwaukee native converted all eight PATs, becoming the first Irish freshman kicker to convert a PAT since 2015. Against the Razorbacks, he kicked off nine times as he made one PAT attempt.

Initially committed to Wisconsin, Notre Dame was successful in flipping him to South Bend. A participant in the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando, he had a decorated high school career at Marquette University. Ranked as the No. 2 kicker in the Class of 2025, he completed 10-of-13 field goal attempts in his senior year. The three missed attempts? On 60,52, and 49-yard kicks, but he made a school record with a 55-yard field goal.

He was honored with the Kevin Stemke Award, which recognizes the most outstanding kicker or punter around the Wisconsin sports circuit. In addition to that, the 6’2, 210-pound kicker won the 2024 Preseason MaxPreps All-America Team honor and the 2024 All-State Kicker and Punter in the state of Wisconsin.

On the other hand, Burnette is a North Carolina transfer, going 3-for-3 on field goals this season, along with a perfect 13-of-13 on extra points. Although he did not feature against Purdue, but was back on the turf against the Arkansas Razorbacks, kicking six extra-point attempts by the second quarter, before he left for the sidelines.

Wide receiver Jaden Greathouse will not be present against Boise State, owing to an injury.

Jaden Greathouse is out due to an injury

Jaden Greathouse, who was the Irish’s No. 1 slot receiver throughout the four games, will not be present against Boise State, owing to a hamstring injury. “Notre Dame WR Jaden Greathouse will miss Saturday’s game with Boise State due to injury,” as reported by the Irish Sports, Matt Freeman. “The expectation is that he won’t miss too much time.”

Over the season, he made four receptions for 72 yards and has yet to score a touchdown. Last season, he caught 64 catches for 930 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming Notre Dame’s best pass-catching option against Penn State and Ohio State.

Replacing Greathouse, graduate senior Will Pauling will take his place. Over the last four games, he has registered seven catches for 95 yards and one touchdown. On a positive note, cornerback Leonard Moore, who had been missing from the last two matchups due to a right ankle injury, will be back on the turf.